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Variations in the sea level along the length of the Western Tropical Pacific Islands

Variations in the sea level along the length of the Western Tropical Pacific Islands

A team consisting of researchers from the Laboratoire d'études en géophysique et océanographie spatiales (Laboratory for Geophysical and Oceanographic Studies) (LEGOS/OMP, UPS / CNRS / CNES / IRD) and the Laboratoire Littoral, environnement et sociétés (Littoral, environment and societies laboratory) (LIENSs, University of La Rochelle / CNRS) has estimated the change in sea level since 1950 at all points of the Western Tropical Pacific. They were able to identify that certain islands in the region had been particularly affected, with a total rise in this level with respect to their shorelines almost 3 times that of the mean rise of the world's oceans.

In particular, this study was based on the use of 3 tide gauges installed on French territory in Nouméa (New Caledonia), Papeete and Rikitea (French Polynesia) the measurements from which are available on REFMAR. It was conducted as part of the ANR's "CECILE" project, dedicated to the study of the coastal impacts of the rise in sea level, in partnership with the BRGM and the CNRM.